Speed test surveys show 1 million Kansans may have inadequate internet

Two surveys conducted by researchers at the University of Kansas Institute for Policy & Social Research from January 2021 to January 2022 found that over 1 million Kansans live in a ZIP code where recorded average download speeds are below 100 Mbps download /20 Mbps upload. Those speeds are considered an adequate baseline for people engaged in online education, streaming video, downloading and uploading large files, and households with multiple users. This finding is especially relevant given the increase in remote work, online schooling and need for access to online services and resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. The surveys have identified areas of the state where internet speeds do not meet the current Federal Communications Commission minimum definition of broadband at 25 Mbps download and 3 Mbps upload. The surveys also identified areas that fall below a more robust standard of 100 Mbps download and 20 Mbps upload. Of the 557 Kansas ZIP codes identified among respondents, the study also found that 95 ZIP codes had an average recorded speed falling short of the FCC broadband definition of 25/3 Mbps. These ZIP codes represent 87,000 people, or 3 percent of the total Kansas population. In addition to surveys, researchers conducted interviews and focus groups to learn more about internet experiences across the state. The research team plans to release the full results of the study later in Spring 2022.